Vacuum tube readout device having ruggedized internal electrode structure and method of making same

ABSTRACT

A numeric readout display utilizing segmented phosphor coated anodes for the presentation of information. The internal mount structure is ruggedized by providing an insulating and leadspacing glass support therein. Additionally, a novel method of assembly includes making segmented anodes as a one-piece, integral structure, attaching this unit to the leads extending from the lead-spacing glass support and subsequently cutting apart the anode unit to form the segments and applying phosphor thereto.

United States Patent 1' Kerstetter et al.

[54] VACUUM TUBE READOUT DEVICE HAVING RUGGEDIZED INTERNAL ELECTRODE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME [75] Inventors: Donald R. Kerstetter; Harold D.

' Losey, both of Emporium, Pa.

[73] Assignee: Sylvnnia Electric Products Inc.

221 Filed: Oct. 13, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 188,977

Related u.s. Application bin [62] Division of Set. No. 232,705, om. 21, 1970.

[52] US. Cl. ..29/2544, 3l3/l09.5 [51] Int. Cl ..notj 9/00 [58] Field of Search ..113/109.5; 29/25.14, 25.15, 29/25.16, 25.18; 313/1095, 108 11,188, 210

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,874,320 12/1959 Hampel ..29/25.16 X I 1 Feb. 20, 1973 2,957,098 10/1960 Demstein ..313/109.5X

2,783,408 2/ 1957 Williams et a1 ..3 1 3/ 109.5 3,584,252 6/1971 Du Bois, Jr ..313/109.5

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 548,352 11/1957 Canada ..313/109.5

Primary Examiner-Charles W. Lanham Assistant Examiner-J. W. Davie Attorney-Norman J. OMalley et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A numeric readout display utilizing segmented phosphor coated anodes for the presentation of information. The internal mount structure is ruggedized by providing an insulating and lead-spacing glass support therein. Additionally, a novel method of assembly includes making segmented anodes as a one-piece, in-

tegral structure, attaching this unit to the leads ex-- tending from the lead-spacing glass support and subsequently cutting apart the anode unit to form the segments and applying phosphor thereto.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures PATENTEDFEBZOZQYS 7 3 716,899-

SHEET 2 BF 2 VACUUM TUBE READOUT DEVICE HAVING RUGGEDIZED INTERNAL ELECTRODE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a division of Ser. No. 82,705, filed Oct. 21, 1970, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relatesto display devices and more particularly to vacuum tube numeric displays utilizing phosphor coated anodes for illuminatiomSuch devices are generally known and are utilized in low voltage operations.

The known devices suffer from. a lack of ruggedness and ease of assemblability, 'particularly'in the area of LII keeping the segmented anodes aligned in the same plane.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this inventionto obviatethe disad- These objects are-accomplished in one aspect of the invention by the provision of a lead-spacing, electrically. insulating support-within a display device envelope. The leads have first and second ends which project in opposite directions from the support. The first ends of the leads are formed to engage-theanode segments of the device and thesecond-ends are formed for attachment to conductive pins of the tube base. This structure-provides a very-rugged 'mounting for'the anodeelements.

The .novel method of construction comprises'first forming the entire anode display as a single-integral unit having sections corresponding to the ultimate plural anode configuration. This single unit is mounted upon the leads projecting from the support member and after attachment the separate anodes-are formed by cutting out sections of the integral unit. Then all segments are simultaneously phosphor coated. This procedure insures that all anode segments will be in substantially the same plane and greatly reducesthe assembly time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THEiDRA-WINGS FIG. 1 is a perspectiveview of an embodiment of the invention with some partsbroken away for clarity;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of astepin the manufacture;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second step in the manufacturing;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a partially completed mount; and

FIG. 5 is an elevational view illustrating oneform of phosphor application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects, advantages and capabilities thereof, reference is made to the following disclosure and appended claims in connection with the above-describeddrawings.

' Referring now to the drawings with greater particularity, there is shown in FIG. 1 a vacuum tube numeric ductive pins, 20a through 20j, extending therethrough.

Mounted within the envelope 12 are a plurality of phosphor coated anode segments22a through 22g. All of the segments'liein=the-same plane and each is provided with-a rearwardly extending tab, 24a through 24g,'respectively, to which an electrical lead is attached. The anode mount comprises an electrically insulating support 26 which canbe of glass or ceramic, which holds and spaces apart in a fixed relationship of plu'rality'of leads 28d through 28i; The support 26 is positioned "intermediate the ends of the leads 280 through 281 thus leaving a first end of the leads projecting inone direction and a second end of the leads projecting'in the opposite direction.'The first ends of leads 28d through 28g are connected, as by welding, to the tabs 240" through 24g of anodes 22a through 22g, respectively. The second ends of leads 280" through 28g are connected to conductive pins'20a through 20g.

. Lead28h'"extends higher'than the anode leads and forms'part of the top support for the cathodes 30 which are filamentary and positioned in front of, or on the viewing side, of the anode segments. Thefirst end of lead '28hprojects into the sealed-offexhaust'tubulation I l6- a'nd thesecond end thereof is connected to conductive'pin 20!: in button18.

Lead-28i performs only a supporting'function as its second-end engages substantially the center of conductive pin 20i, which is bent to be substantially parallel to button 18 and which forms the lower support for cathodes 30.

The tenth conductive pin, 20j, extends upwardly from the center of button '18 and is formed to accept a decimal point32.

The filamentary cathodes 30 are tensioned between conductive pin'20i at the bottom and a pair of spring arms 34 and 36. The arms34 and 36 extend outwardly from crossbar 38 to which they are connected through the intermediary of springs 40 and 42. The crossbar 38 is fastened to lead 28h.

A getter 44 is positioned in the tube at any suitable locationysuch as behind the anode array, and can be supported by a rod 45 which is connected to conduc' tive pin 20h' at its lower end and to lead 28h at its upper end.

It will'be seen that this assembly provides a much more rugged structure than previous devices of this type. The glass support for theleads, in conjunction with the single lead held in the exhaust tubulation, makes this device virtually impervious to shock.

The mount'stru'cture itself can be fabricated by the novel method of this invention. Herein, the anodes are first formed as a single integral unit 46, as shown in FIG. 2. The unit 46 has substantially the configuration of a figure eight with opposed, spaced apart side sections 48 and 50; opposed, spaced apart top and bottom sections 52 and 54 respectively, which are connected to the side sections; and a middle section 56 which is also connected to the side sections. Each of the respective sections is provided with an inwardly extending tab 58, which tabs in the finished device will correspond'to tabs 24a through 24g. The unit 46 can be constructed plication by dipping provides a substantially uniform layer on each segment, thus equalizing light output.

While there have been shown and described what are at present considered the preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be,

I made therein without departing from the scope of the of any suitable anode material such, for example, as.

nickel or silver plated steel. After unit 46 is formed, the? are connected to their respective tabs. After the leads are attached the integral unit is formed into a plurality of anode segments by cutting out the portions thereof where the top, bottom and middle join the sides. The portions are shown in phantom as 60 in FIG. 2. After the cutting operation, which can be performed simultaneously on a jig, the now individual anode segments are coated with phosphor.

An exemplary method of accomplishing the coating is shown in FlG. 5 wherein the anode cluster is dipped onto a suitable surface, such as belt 62 which contains on its surface a layer of phosphor 64 carried in a suitable binder. Subsequent to the phosphor application, the

second ends of the leads 28 are formed to contactthe invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a method of fabricating a numeric readout tube mount structure having a plurality of illuminable anode segments the steps comprising: first forming said anodes as a single integral unit having substantially the configuration of a figure eight with opposed, spaced apart side sections; opposed spaced apart top and bottom sections connected to said side sections; and a middle section parallel to said top and bottom sections also connected to said side sections, each of said sections being provided with an inwardly projecting tab; bending said tabs to extend away from the plane of said sections at an angle of substantially 90"; forming an intermediate mounting member comprising a plurality of leads having first and second ends projecting from a glass spacer positioned intermediate said ends; forming at least some of the first ends of said leads to positions accommodating said tabs; attaching said formed first ends of said leads to said tabs; forming said integral unit into a plurality of electrically isolated segments by cutting out portions thereof where said top, bottom, and middle sections JOlIl said side sections; and coating the surface of said formed segments with phosphor.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said number of I electrically isolated segments is seven.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein said glass spacer is 'parallelepipedonal. 

1. In a method of fabricating a numeric readout tube mount structure having a plurality of illuminable anode segments the steps comprising: first forming said anodes as a single integral unit having substantially the configuration of a figure eight with opposed, spaced apart side sections; opposed spaced apart top and bottom sections connected to said side sections; and a middle section parallel to said top and bottom sections also connected to said side sections, each of said sections being provided with an inwardly projecting tab; bending said tabs to extend away from the plane of said sections at an angle of substantially 90*; forming an intermediate mounting member comprising a plurality of leads having first and second ends projecting from a glass spacer positioned intermediate said ends; forming at least some of the first ends of said leads to positions accommodating said tabs; attaching said formed first ends of said leads to said tabs; forming said integral unit into a plurality of electrically isolated segments by cutting out portions thereof where said top, bottom, and middle sections join said side sections; and coating the surface of said formed segments with phosphor.
 1. In a method of fabricating a numeric readout tube mount structure having a plurality of illuminable anode segments the steps comprising: first forming said anodes as a single integral unit having substantially the configuration of a figure eight with opposed, spaced apart side sections; opposed spaced apart top and bottom sections connected to said side sections; and a middle section parallel to said top and bottom sections also connected to said side sections, each of said sections being provided with an inwardly projecting tab; bending said tabs to extend away from the plane of said sections at an angle of substantially 90*; forming an intermediate mounting member comprising a plurality of leads having first and second ends projecting from a glass spacer positioned intermediate said ends; forming at least some of the first ends of said leads to positions accommodating said tabs; attaching said formed first ends of said leads to said tabs; forming said integral unit into a plurality of electrically isolated segments by cutting out portions thereof where said top, bottom, and middle sections join said side sections; and coating the surface of said formed segments with phosphor.
 2. The invention of claim 1 wherein said number of electrically isolated segments is seven. 